Types of diets: Which ones can you find?
When we find ourselves in the situation of starting a diet to lose weight, we are faced with an infinity of types of diets that make us doubt which one will be more beneficial for us.
What are the most common types of diets?
Next we will detail the different types of diets that you can find.
Hypocaloric Diet
The hypocaloric diet allows us to eat in a balanced and healthy way by controlling calorie intake, which varies depending on our physical characteristics and our level of activity. In this type of diet, five meals a day are eaten and no food groups are avoided, except those such as sugar and saturated fats. These parameters are suitable in a diet for diabetics, since, in addition to distributing meals throughout the day, they limit the amount of fat, sugar and salt that we eat, and allow us to consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Points Diet
The point diet is a good option for those who are bored with all the diets and want to try something new. In this type of diet, all food groups are also consumed in a balanced way and, for this, it has a table of points that classifies them according to their characteristics. The objective of this feeding plan is not to exceed the indicated points at the end of the day. In this diet there are no prohibited foods, but you should always avoid those such as pastries or fatty sausages, because their high score can make us reach all the points, or exceed them, just by trying them.
Paleo Diet
The paleo diet, also called the paleolithic diet, has practically become a lifestyle. It consists of going back to those origins in which food was based solely on what was hunted and collected. For this reason, this type of diet eliminates processed foods and avoids some groups such as cereals or dairy products, and bases the diet on meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, which provide a high degree of energy. Although it may be a good option, you have to find a balance in the consumption of these products, since an excessive consumption of meat can also be harmful
Protein Diet
In the protein diet, food is limited to those foods that are high in protein, such as meat, fish and dairy products. This type of diet, which comes to exclude food groups as fundamental as fruits and vegetables, can cause serious health problems. Some of the most serious deficiencies of this diet are the lack of carbohydrates and fiber, essential for the proper functioning of our body. This restrictive diet makes it possible to lose kilos easily at the expense of our health and can seriously harm our metabolism.
Detox Diet
The term “detox” has become a word that is on everyone’s lips, but the truth is that this type of diet cannot be sustained over time. This type of diet has emerged in recent years as a way to purify our body, and is based on the exclusive consumption of liquids for at least one full day a week. An exclusive consumption of liquid not only does not provide the amount of energy necessary for the functioning of the organism, but it can also cause imbalances in such necessary components as calcium, potassium or sodium.
Alkaline Diet
Also known as the pH diet and promoted as the “anti-cancer” diet, this type of diet is the latest revolution among celebrities. The alkaline diet promises to purify the body and, in addition, to be a strong protector against possible tumors, based on the consumption of foods that have supposed effects on the acidity of the fluids in our body. The point in favor of this diet is that it advocates foods such as cereals, fruits, vegetables and legumes, but with such a wide restriction in the rest of the foods that it is not a healthy option.
Be wary of miracle diets
This type of diet, to which we can add the pineapple or artichoke diet, the 500 calorie diet or the dissociated diet, among many others, are called miracle diets. They instruct us on how to lose weight quickly, but they become double-edged swords, since, in addition to causing health problems, they have a boomerang effect with weight, which means that after losing weight very quickly, not only we return it to recover, but it is possible that we increase it.
We must not forget that a diet does not only mean losing weight, but also achieving healthy lifestyle habits that last over time and help us improve our health.
What type of diet is best for me?
The recommendation is always to go to specialized nutrition personnel, who will advise us on how to lose weight in the healthiest way and that best suits our physical and medical characteristics.